SHILLONG, NOV 26: Effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya home minister Lahkmen Rymbui were burnt by protesters near the CM’s official residence on Saturday as a mark of protest against their failure to resolve the age old boundary dispute which has resulted in the loss of many precious lives.
The surprise protest was held under the ‘Save Hynniewtrep Mission’ which is being spearheaded by five pressure groups that include the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), East Jaintia National Council (EJNC), Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM), Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) and Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CoRP).
Earlier, there was a heated argument between the leaders of the groups and officials of the district administration after they were not allowed to burn the effigies in front of the CM’s bungalow at Polo.
Later, the protesters were asked to carry out their protest in the middle of the road, which was just fifty meters away from the CM’s residence.
However, protesters also confronted the police and magistrates after two police gypsies came in high speed and was about to hit those at the protest venue. The situation was brought under control after police assured to take action against the two vehicles.
Before burning the effigies, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “We want to make it very clear that this is not a fight between the Khasis and Assamese people but this is a fight against the failure of the three governments – Government of India, Government of Meghalaya and Government of Assam – to resolve the long pending boundary dispute.”
At least six persons including five Khasi villagers and one Assam forest guard have been killed in a firing by Assam police at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills District on November 22.
Kharjahrin said the firing incident could have been avoided if the MDA government keeps its promise to resolve the second phase of border within 45 days as per its recent notification.
“Instead of deploying adequate police force, the state government had already decided to demand a CBI enquiry (into the Mukroh firing incident) but don’t they know that the root cause of all this is due to a border dispute that has been lying unresolved for the past 50 years,” he said.
He also questioned what will happen to Mukroh village if the CBI comes and trials the case in West Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
“But we make it amply clear that we will not allow the case to be trial in West Karbi Anglong but we will ensure that the case is registered and trial in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills by the CBI court because we don’t want to lose Mukroh to Assam,” Kharjahrin said.
The HYC leader said the five groups also sent a clear message to the Union home minister and the 36 MLAs of Khasi-Jaintia Hills that they should start the second phase of border talks and resolve the dispute in the remaining six areas of difference before the 2023 Assembly polls.
“Today we have only come in front of the CM’s residence so don’t force us to come to the residences of all the 36 MLAs and burn their effigies, if they further delay to resolve the border dispute,” he threatened.
He continued: “We request Prestone Tynsong to stop listening to Conrad K Sangma and start taking the lead and ensure second phase of border talk’s start. We also urge Amit Shah to ensure border dispute is resolved before the election and ensure justice is given to all five persons who were killed in the firing.”
Kharjahrin assured to give full support for resolving the border dispute and said, “Headman of Mukroh has all the documents to substantiate the claim that the village falls under Meghalaya and we want Mukroh to be in Meghalaya forever.”
Stating that situation is very bad in the border areas, Kharjahrin said the groups also demanded the state government to deploy all SF-10 and SOT personnel to all villages along the inter-state border and protect the people there and not wait for them to be injured and killed by Assam police.
Urging all concerns not to communalize the border issue, HYC leader said, “If the NGOs and people of Assam cross the line, we will also be compelled to do the same. This issue is related to border disputes which both the governments have to resolve immediately and not allow it to turn into communalism.”
Condemning the authorities for preventing the groups to hold protest in front of the CM’s bungalow, Kharjahrin said he doubted that democracy is still alive in Meghalaya adding “People of Assam can enter right inside of Meghalaya but here we are not allowed to protest in front of our CM’s residence despite it being constructed by public money.”
“Time will come when people will kick you out of this bungalow if you cannot solve the border dispute before the election. If they can’t arrest the Assam police and forest guards involved in the killing of the innocent villagers, we can assume that Conrad K Sangma is also involved in the incident,” he added.
He further slammed the government’s decision to ban mobile internet and alleged, “The internet ban is not only depriving people of their livelihood and their better future but the internet ban has got only one intention and that is to minimize the damage to the NPP ahead of the election. Similarly, the imposition of 144 CrPC in the entire city is nothing but to prevent people from taking out democratic agitations due to fear of losing the election.”
By Our Reporter
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